Ask a Farmer: Beta Agonists and Cattle Feeding

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Feed ingredients in cattle diets vary between each and every farm and they are all used for a specific reason. This summer, a few questions have been raised about one particular feed ingredient, a beta agonist called zilpaterol. I want to share some educational links on the topic. We all have a choice of what feed ingredients to use and consume, and I respect that right for each and every person. The views are my own, and I only wish to add an informational voice to the conversation.

Cattle eating from a typical feedlot feed bunk. Image via Colorado State University

In response to the suspension, Merck Animal Health announced a Five Step Action Plan for how they are responding to the questions. The Action Plan includes certification and training efforts for cattle feeders using the Zilmax feed additive, a scientific audit to determine potential causes of lameness and mobility issues, reinforcing appropriate management practices for feeders, formation of an Animal Health Advisory Board, and being transparent with the findings from the event.

Merck Animal Health has since suspended sales of Zilmax until findings are evaluated and a definitive cause for claims of animal lameness are determined. Zilpaterol is one of two beta agonists used most commonly in finishing livestock. Ractopamine (marketed by Elanco Animal Health as Optaflexx for cattle and Paylean for swine) has not been the target of any animal welfare concerns.

What are Beta-Agonists?

Beta-agonists are FDA-approved animal feed ingredients that help cattle be more efficient in gains during the finish feeding period. When cattle are young, their nutrient intake is directed at building muscle, but as they age, they begin to put on more fat. Beta-agonists help cattle maintain their natural muscle-building ability, resulting in the leaner beef that consumers demand.

Cattle fed beta-agonists in the last few weeks prior to harvest, gain an estimated 30 more pounds of lean meat versus fat. This translates to an estimated 780 million pounds of additional beef from the same number of animals across the U.S. cattle feeders.

How are cattle feed additives used safely?

Extensive research shows that beta-agonists are metabolized quickly by cattle so they are not stored in the body and therefore are not present in the meat. Beta-agonists are approved for use in the United States, Canada, Australia and two dozen other countries across the developed world.

Nutritionists and veterinarians are consulted prior to the use of beta-agonists in the diet of cattle and determine if the use is necessary. There are several factors that guide this decision, including type of cattle, condition of cattle, customer expectations, such as yield and quality grades, as well as leanness, weather or seasonal conditions. Environmental goals of the operations are also considered because cattle fed these feed ingredients need less grain, which reduces the farm’s demand on natural resources.

Industry members and scientific researchers are continuing work to understand any possible correlation between the use of beta-agonists and reported animal welfare issues.

There are several academic, peer-reviewed research articles addressing the use of feed additives like beta agonists. Spend some time on Google Scholar to find more.

Learn more about cattle feed additives

If you have questions about what feed additives are and how they are used in raising beef, feel free to ask me via the blog contact form. I have worked in several cattle feedlots that use many feed ingredients and can share my experience with you.

Not all cattle are fed beta-agonists, and when they are fed, it is only for a limited period of time. I respect any producers decision whether or not to use these feed additives, and the same respect goes for any choices consumers wish to make. I just wish to add some educated information to the conversation.

There are several online resources available that you can reference.

Several posts of the Beef Checkoff funded website, FactsAboutBeef.com, address the issue of beta-agonists:

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Published by Ryan Goodman

Ryan Goodman lives in Colorado, is an avid trail and ultrarunner, and works with farmers and ranchers to help them share their stories of agriculture and how food is raised. Connect with Ryan online as @BeefRunner. #TeamBeef.
View all posts by Ryan Goodman

13 Comments

Thanks for the info, Ryan. I always welcome this sort of info. The problem with many of these anti-meat people and many other activists is they really don’t want to hear the truth, scientific or otherwise. I guess there will always be those who just want something to protest. We just have to keep plugging away. Thanks again for all you do.

Hi Caryl,
Do you know who Temple Grandin is? She works with the meat industry to create more humane slaughterhouses. You might be interested in her remarks on the use of beta-agonists: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/23/livestock-zilmax-grandin-idUSL2N0GM25620130823 I consider her a good resource because she’s not anti-meat. I am not anti-meat, but I am concerned about animal welfare. It’s not always that animal welfare folks just want something to protest about; it can also be about the fact that it can be difficult to find truly objective information. Anyway, thanks for your comment, and Ryan, thanks for your post!

I don’t know if they are “approved” for use in Australia are they? I know that they aren’t currently registered, although recently a proposal to register Zilmax was put forward. The industry is discussing it currently and it’s a fairly touchy subject.

I’m thinking that if consumers do value beef without additives, then it would be profitable for not feed beta-agonists, the premium that they would like to pay will compensate the the loss of not use additives. I don’t have agricultural background, but do you think farmers would like to stop using additives if they think consumer would like to pay a premium? Or it doesn’t make any sense for farmers?

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